Our Journey - Part 2

I am taking a short detour here to fill in a few things about how I was able to come home.

I felt the call to home school when Abby was still an infant and so I mentioned it to my husband several times over the next few months. He told me that we would never be able to afford for me to come home, that I would always have to work full time. Of course, this added to the anxiety that I was already feeling. I began to pray in earnest that G-d would either change my desire or my husband's heart. He gave me a greater desire to home school and be with my child.

When Abby was about three years old, I felt it was time to have a serious talk with my husband about home schooling. It was a Sunday afternoon when I told him I needed to talk to him. I was ready for a fight. I had all my arguments ready so that I could convince him that home schooling was what G-d wanted for our family.

I sat down and said, "Scott, I really feel that G-d wants us to home school Abby." He said, "OK, let's go look at the budget and see how we are going to work it out."

I didn't have to argue. I didn't have to convince him. G-d had changed Scott's heart on the matter. We spent all that afternoon coming up with a plan to pay off all of our debt, except the house. We worked for the next two years to accomplish it.

Scott still was not convinced that we could make it on his salary (we cut our income in half when I quit working all together). I found a part time job in the afternoons and evenings but I was still working between 25 to 30 hours a week outside the home plus drive time. I schooled Abby in the mornings, which was okay because it was kindergarten. The next year, when Abby was in first grade, I took care of two children in my home. This did not work well for us because my husband works nights about half the time and sleeps during the days. However, during this time, as my income slowly decreased, G-d convinced my husband that we could make it on his salary. Since then I teach Spanish to home schooling families and that helps to pay for books, supplies and field trips.

In January of this year, we took another leap of faith when we moved from Columbia to Rock Hill, SC. My husband is a police officer and works a great deal of overtime to keep me at home. We had been praying for a way for him to be home more and a better work environment for him. G-d has blessed us greatly with a position with the Police Dept here. Scott is surrounded by believers and is home with us more. Rock Hill also has a very strong home schooling community and we have been privileged to meet many wonderful families this year.

Abby is now in forth grade. I love being with her everyday. I am finally following G-d's will for my life by being available to my family when they need me. There is nothing else competing for my time and so I am able to put all my effort in to taking care of them.

To be continued...

Challenge of the Week

Do you love intentionally? Do you take the time each day to show each member in your family that you love them. Whether it is a quick shoulder rub, time to snuggle with your little one, or a note in the lunchbox, it is important that we find ways to show our family that each one is special and specially loved.

Every day this week, try to find a new way to purposely show your spouse and each child in your home that you love them. Be creative and feel free to share ideas. Here are a few to get you started.

Leave love notes around the house (on the bathroom mirror, on a wallet or a desk)
Do a special activity with your child (something you would not normally do)
Hold their hand
Cook a favorite meal (Get the kids involved if it is for daddy)

And don't forget to tell them how much they mean to you. They need to hear it too.



In His Service,

Angela

Grandpa, are you a christian?

This is the true story of Susan, Bob and their granddaughter, Annie(names have been changed). Susan and Bob have been married for more than 30 years. Recently, Annie asked Grandpa Bob if he had ever asked Jesus into his heart. Grandpa responded, "Yes, when I was about your age". Annie says, "That's great grandpa, but Grandma said she didn't think you ever had".

Wow! That says alot.

First of all, Bob and Susan have been married 30+ years and they have never talked about their salvation and beliefs?

Second, what does this say about Bob? What kind of life is he living that no one, not his wife, children or grandchild knows if he is a Christian?

Only God knows the state of Bob's heart and no one else can judge his sincerity. However, the Bible does say that our lives should reflect what is in our hearts.

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
Luke 6:45 (NIV)

How often do those who claim to know Christ do these very same things. When we live like the rest of the world, no one will associate us with the Most High. And if they do, then the impression they will have of Christians will not be favorable.

We must be different than the world if we are to make an impact on the world for Christ.

In His Service,

Angela

Regret

I once lived by the saying, "Why regret what you can't change?"

I have come to realize that without regret, there can be no repentance.

When a person regrets or feels remorse, it is because of some wrong doing. The wrongful action must be acknowledged before forgiveness can be asked for and given. Therefore, we feel regret when we have sinned.

Without this feeling of remorse, we cannot humble ourselves before Christ or the one whom we have offended. We are then unable to truly seek out the forgiveness needed.

I have many regrets in my life. No I can not change the past, but I have been forgiven for the sins of my past. Because I regret much, I have been and continue to be forgiven much.

In His Service,

Angela

Making Things Harder

I told my mother recently that I wanted my daughter to have things harder than I did growing up. She thought I was crazy because she always told us she wanted us to have things better than she did. Let me explain what I mean.

My parents spoiled my brother and I rotten. They bought us way to many things, clothes, toys, new furniture when we didn't need it. They would go in debt every Christmas and birthday to make things "special" for us. While they did instill in us a great work ethic, I don't believe we appreciated what we had or how hard my parents had to work, as much as we should have. We could have done without much of what they bought for us.

I want Abby to know that we have to make difficult choices and that she will have to work hard for the things she really wants. I believe it will make her think about what is most important to her and she will spend the money she earns more carefully. I also want her to know that spending time with family and friends, building our relationships with them, is more important than the gifts we give or receive.

Abby told me recently that it is better to have me home with her than to get to go out to do special things on a regular basis. This is one of the things we gave up so that I could be at home with her.

All in all, I think she is learning this lesson well. Relationships with people are infinitly more important than things.

In His Service,

Angela